Bohemians travelled in hope of a first final in 10 years but their optimism was shattered within six first half minutes, and while other teams may have folded there and then, this is a spirited Gypsies side that has grown accustomed to winning in recent months.

In victory or defeat, they tend to go out swinging.

It became an admirable trait that typified the second half of their season.

Sparked by a 40-yard Ian Morris thunderbolt that halved the deficit, they made the FAI Cup holders sweat every step of the way for their big day out next month.

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But first half goals from Graham Cummins and Karl Sheppard gave the Rebels the cushion they desperately needed in the end to keep alive their three in a row hopes.

Cummins said: “It’s unreal – that’s what I came back for, to get to finals like this. It was a hard game and Bohs really came at us in the second half.”

But he also doffed his cap to Morris for his wonder goal, adding: “It’s one of the goals of the season and one of the best strikes I’ve ever seen.”

City stalwart Alan Bennett beamed: “To get to four finals in a row is incredible. It’s a monumental achievement for this club.”

The fact it will be a Dundalk-Cork showpiece for the fourth year running may not please neutrals who were relying on the Gypsies to add a fresh dynamic.

Cork’s win also means Shamrock Rovers and Waterford are guaranteed Europe regardless of what happens in their three remaining league games. That Cork took the lead came as no surprise. They were the better side building up to Cummins’ intervention on the half-hour having suffocated the Gypsies.